|
a.
|
Note: ally by Barbara L. Van Norsdall in 2005.
Reverend Richard Denton was baptized April 10, 1603 from record of Worley, Halifax, Yorkshire, England. He was the son of Richard and Susan Denton. Rev. Richard received a B. A. degree from St. Catherine's Hall, University of Cambridge, in 1623 from college record. After graduation he received his charge to the ministry at Turton, a small village four or five miles north of Bolton, Lancashire. In the Bolton records , the baptism records for his first two children were found. Timothy baptized July 23, 1627, and Nathaniel baptized March 9, 1628/29. These were recorded as the children of Mr. Denton minister at Turton, wife's name not given.
His next ministerial charge was at Coley Chapel, Halifax, Yorkshire where the first of three more children were recorded. Samuel baptized May 29, 1631; Daniel baptized July 10, 1632; Pheobe baptized September 20, 1634.
Rev. Richard came to New Netherlands about early 1635. Records indicate that he was a Congregational Minister preaching at Watertown, Mass. He then went to Wethersfield, Conn. He then settled Stamford, Connecticut. After two year, he and his flock settled in Hempstead, Long Island starting in 1644. The first meeting house which was also used as the town hall was raised in 1645 and finished in 1648. He established a Presbyterian Church, known as Christ Church. It is still in existence on Denton Square, though the original church is long gone and on its site is the fourth Christ Church, this one a modern edifice nearly a block long.
Note: From New England Genealogical Reg. 11/241: Rev. Richard Denton came to America from the Parish of Owram, North England on the ship "James." He lived in Wetheresfield and Stamford, Connecticut. The J.S. Denton papers show baptismal records of Nathaniel and Timothy sons of Rev. Richard Denton "in Parish Church of Bolton, England." (Note: Some say his ship was the "Arbella.")
Rev. Richard worked first with the famous preacher, Cotton Mather. Rev. Mather speaks of Rev. Denton in his early memoirs: "Rev. Denton was a highly religious man with strong Presbyterian beliefs. He was a small man with only one eye, but in the pulpit he could sway a congregation like he was nine feet tall."
In his book, "The History of the Clergy in the Middle Colonies" author Weiss makes reference to the religious conflict of early Connecticut which resulted in Rev. Richard Denton moving on to Hempstead, Long Island, NY in 1644. He settled there in the midst of a large Dutch colony. However, there were also many English settlers living in the area without benefit of religious guidance. With these scattered members for a beginning, Rev. Denton established the first Presbyterian Church in America. This church was so successful that soon the Dutch neighbors were attending services there. History shows some controversy developed when Rev. Denton began to baptize some of the younger children of the Dutch who did not agree with all the Presbyterian beliefs.
The history of Hempstead, Long Island makes many references to the Dentons and their marriages and big families. The men were active in the local militias fighting the Indians and they developed excellent military experience that prepared them for officer commissions when they moved on to the Virginia frontier.
From "Narratives of New Netherland, 1609-1664" a letter to the Classis of Amsterdam from Johannes Megapolensis and Samuel Drisius dated August 5, 1657: "At Heemstede, about seven leagues from here, there live some Independents. There are also many of our own church, and some Presbyterian's. They have a Presbyterian preacher, Richard Denton, a pious, godly and learned man, who is in agreement with our
church in everything. The Independents of the place listen attentively to his sermons; but when he began to baptize the children of parents who are not members of the church, they rushed out of the church." From another letter dated Oct. 22, 1657 the same writers continue: "Mr. Richard Denton, who is sound in faith, of a friendly disposition, and beloved by all, cannot be induced by us to remain, although we have earnestly tried to do this in various ways. He first went to Virginia to seek a situation, complaining of lack of salary, and that he was getting in debt, but he has returned thence. He is now fully resolved to go to old England, because of his wife who is sickly will not go without him, and there is need of their going there on account of a legacy of four hundred pounds sterling lately left by a deceased friend, and which they cannot obtain except by their personal presence."
The following is a posting to Dutch-Colonies Website at Rootsweb 22 Jan 2007 "The tombstone of Richard Denton bears the inscription in Latin: "here lies the dust of Richard Denton, O'er his low peaceful grave bends the perennial cypress, fit emblem of his unfading fame, On Earth, his bright example, religious light, shown forth o'er the multitudes. In heaven his pure robed spirit shines like an effulgent star.""
Note: Information researched, interpreted, and transcribed to Rootsweb origin
|
